CELL BIOLOGY - 2021/2

Module Overview

This module introduces students to the structures within a cell and their functions, including an understanding of the processes by which cells divide and die.  The module then considers how cell structure and function can be adapted to specialise cells for particular purposes, and begins to consider how different types of cell are able to interact with one another and their environment in order to form higher order structures such as tissues and organs.  Overarching these themes are four practical classes which illustrate the way in which cells and tissues can be studied.

Module provider

School of Biosciences and Medicine

Module Leader

CAMELLITI Patrizia (Biosc & Med)

Number of Credits: 15

ECTS Credits: 7.5

Framework: FHEQ Level 4

Module cap (Maximum number of students): N/A

Module Availability

Semester 1

Prerequisites / Co-requisites

None

Module content

Indicative content includes:

• Introduction to the module aims and learning objectives


• The nucleus, structure, organisation


• Ribosomes and protein synthesis


• Endoplasmic reticulum and the Golgi apparatus


• Exocytosis and endocytosis


• Lysosomes and peroxisomes


• Mitochondria


• Cytoskeleton and mobility in eukaryotes


• Cell turnover: Mitosis, Meiosis and Apoptosis


• Visualising tissues and cells


• Epithelial tissue


• Connective tissue


• Muscle


• Nerve


• Junctions between cells


• Tutorials: Organelles, Practical report feedback, Cell turnover, Tissues, Exam tutorial

• Practical: Subcellular fractionation


• Practical: Chromosomes OR Muscle workshop (depending on student's area of interest, as defined by their programme)


• Practical: Microscopy and tissue structure


• Practical: Histological staining

Assessment pattern

Alternative Assessment

Where practical Microscopy and tissue structure has been missed or failed students will be set written coursework to assess the underlying principles of the appropriate learning outcomes. This will reflect the material covered in the original assessment and will carry the same weighting.  

Assessment Strategy

The assessment strategy is designed to provide students with the opportunity to demonstrate:

• their knowledge of the principles of cell biology (Learning Outcomes 1-8) by MCQ


• their practical, analytical and cognitive skills (Learning Outcomes 9-12) within practical reports and specific MCQ relating to Histological Staining.

• Practical report:  Practical Microscopy and tissue structure:  identification of tissues - submitted after the class (typically week 13)


• Examination (75 min): 60 MCQ - this will contain questions directly pertaining to practical: Histological staining.

• verbal feedback from academics or demonstrators during practicals


• formative practical tests:
  
  
  
  • Subcellular fractionation:  online submission of answers to questions
  
  
  • Chromosomes:  online submission of answers to questions
  
  
  • Histological staining:  proforma for recording is class (can be discussed with demonstrators) with further questions via SurreyLearn to provide formative evaluation in preparation for the MCQ exam.
  
  
  
  


• verbal feedback following lectures or during tutorials


• automated feedback to quizzes (overall mark, answers and feedback comments to each question)


• feedback to specific queries via email, with responses being made available to all via SurreyLearn or during tutorials as appropriate


• generic class feedback to practical reports (prior to next deadline)

Module aims

• Establish a basic appreciation of cellular structures, processes and function
• Introduce modern techniques in microscopy and cellular investigations
• To provide the practical skills needed to examine cellular structure and function
• To provide an appreciation of the use of biochemical and histological skills in biomedical and clinical research laboratories
• Establish a firm basis for subsequent molecular biology, physiology and biochemistry

Learning outcomes

Methods of Teaching / Learning

The learning and teaching strategy is designed to:

BMS1025 is designed to provide students with material which will underpin many of their later modules in a format which is readily accessible and can be referred back to during the rest of their course.  The lectures are designed to give sufficient detail to make the principles of cellular organisation clear so that the control of cellular process and / or pathologies associated with their disruption can be built upon this foundation in later modules.  Overarching the lectures are four practical classes which serve to illustrate these principles in a practical setting, as well as to teach students skills of observation, record keeping, interpretation and classification.  Interactive tutorials enable students to discuss problems and explore their understanding of the topic, as well as serving as a vehicle for feedback on progress and assessments.

BMS1025 makes extensive use of SurreyLearn: in addition to lecture notes and reading lists, animations, web links, interactive quizzes (one per topic) and other learning resources are available. These include a formative MCQ; this does not contribute to the final module mark but all students are expected to complete the assessment as part of their learning for BMS1025.

The learning and teaching methods include:

• Lectures – 26 h


• Tutorials – 4 h (optional tutorial sessions can be arranged during revision week)


• Practicals – 4 x 3 h


• Quizzes (one per topic area)

Indicated Lecture Hours (which may also include seminars, tutorials, workshops and other contact time) are approximate and may include in-class tests where one or more of these are an assessment on the module. In-class tests are scheduled/organised separately to taught content and will be published on to student personal timetables, where they apply to taken modules, as soon as they are finalised by central administration. This will usually be after the initial publication of the teaching timetable for the relevant semester.

Reading list

https://readinglists.surrey.ac.uk
Upon accessing the reading list, please search for the module using the module code: BMS1025

Programmes this module appears in

Please note that the information detailed within this record is accurate at the time of publishing and may be subject to change. This record contains information for the most up to date version of the programme / module for the 2021/2 academic year.